Advertising device and the like.



H. K. HARRIS.

ADVERTISING DEVICE AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION r1150 MAR. 11. 1911.

Patented May 4, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ATTORNEYS H. K. HARRIS.

ADVERTISING DEVICE AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION r1110 MAR. 11. 1911.

1,138,471 Q Patented May 4, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f O a 50 1 WI W/ I111.

IWITA/ESSES: Jf nggmroe 5 677] 7722s I: y

' W ATTORNEYS H. K. HARRIS. ADVERTISING DEVICE AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I7. I9II.

Patented May 4, 1915.

f a MW m 4 9 W7 m fin /i4 m m 4 y .1 2 B 5 B I 2% I w i fi Mfl W H H. a;I W 3 W H. K. HARRIS.

ADVERTISING DEVICE AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED mm. 11. um.

Patented May 4, 1915.

A TTORNE Y8 H. K. HARRIS.

ADVERTISING DEVICE AND THE LIKE.

"APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1911.

Patented May 4, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

LUID. III

ATTORNEYS H. K. HARRIS.

ADVERTISING DEVICE AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED ma. 1?. m1.

1 1 38,47 1 Patented May 4, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

I "1 i 5 J5? Ln 45 4.5 6 5:: ,4 a i 5 i g Q 1 2 30 i I 107 WITNESSESI/VlfEA/TOR A TTORNEYS HENRY KINGSFORD HARRIS, OERUNWELL, WICKFOBI),ENGLAND.

ADVERTISING DEVICE AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Application filed March 17, 1911. Serial No. 615,128.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I. I'IENRY Kmesronn HARRIS,subject of the King of England, residing at Runwell, Wickford, Essex,England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in andRelating to Advertising Devices and the like, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to display devices operated mechanically andelectrically, my more particular purpose being to provide means,controllable from a distance by a controlling apparatus, which Idesignate as a jacquard, in such manner as to display a number oflegends or intelligible signs so arranged as to act as a visual signal,the jacquard being adapted for controlling within reasonable limits, thecharacter of the signals displayed. 7

My invention includes among other things, besides the jacquard, which islocated the transmitting station, a receiving or displaying apparatuslocated at a receiving station and comprising a number of separateunits, each provided with a display device, the several display devicesacting collectively to produce a composite visual signal.

Other objects and advantages, not at this time specifically set forth,will appear as the the structure proceeds, the forth and embodying thebeing included description of novel features set principles of theinvention within the appended claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specificatiomin which similar characters of reference denotecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of one of the units: Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof; Fig. 3 isa detail of the forward driving'spindle; Fig. 4 sets forth the detail ofthe reversing spindle; Figs. 5 and 6 show details hereinafter morespecifically referred to; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing theelectrical connections between the different elements of the outfit;Fig. 8 is a side view setting forth some of the detail of one form ofjacquard; Fig. 9 is a partial top plan view thereof; Fig. 10 is a sideelevation of a portion of the mechanism located at the receivingstation, the parts shown .including the actuating motor for operatingthe various units; Fig. 10 is a side elevation constituting acontinuation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 11 is an endelevation of the is a detail showing in section,

actuating motor and parts immediately associated therewith; Fig. 11 isan end elevation, being a continuation of the mechanism shown in Fig.11; Fig. 12 is a detail showing in perspective the means employed at thereceiving station for maintaining the display members of the severalunits in fixed position after such members have been moved into suchposition, in order that the signal displayed may be readily observed.Fig. 13 the relation between certain contact members and the jacquardmechanism.

The structure of a single unit may be understood by reference to Figs. 1to 5 inclusive. I provide two side members a, held together in anysuitable manner, as by means of rods, or, in fact, any kind of braces a;between the sides of the frame and revolubly mounted in position is awinding roller 1), a take-up roller 0, and guide rollers (Z, 6, the band7 carried by the winding roller 1) passing around the guides d and e andbeing also carried on the take-up roller 0. This band may be made of anysuitable and desirable material, transparent or otherwise, and may beprovided with suitable characters or numerals or words printed thereonor mounted and displayed in any appropriate manner.

Extending transversely of the unit, and mounted in suitable bearingscarried thereby, are the shafts s, t; the shaft t is the forward drivingsh aft and the shaft 8 is the reverse driving shaft, it being noted fromFig. 4 that the shaft t is provided with a clutch element 1' and theshaft s is provided with a similar clutch element q; cooperating withthe element 0' is the other clutch element 7 which controls the forwarddriving clutch, while the element n, which cooperates with the clutchelement q, controls the reverse driving shaft 8. Still considering Fig.4, it will be noted that between the clutch members 'n, and p is adouble-forked lever u, secured rigidly upon a link to, the link beingpivotally engaged at one end of the rod a. As shown in this figure, bothclutches are in inoperative position, being disengaged, such position,however, being one that does not occur in practice, the structure hereinset forth being shown merely for purposes of clearness. It will be bornein mind, however, in setting forth the further description and operationof the device that in practice one or other of the clutches is inoperative position.- The forked lever u at its opposite ends 2, 3, isprovided with projecting studs which engage in the annular grooves inthe clutch members n, p, so that, if the rod is actuated, one or otherof the clutches will be brought to operative position.

The clutch members 12, p, are carried by comparatively short shafts s,t','provided at their outer ends with pinions l0 and m, which mesh witha gear h turning with the shaft y driven by the main driving motor 36;the inner ends of the shafts s, t, may be mounted in any .desirablemanner, preferably by being inserted into the bores in the ends of theshafts s, 1, so that rotation of the shaft 9 causes the turning ofeither of the shafts s or t through the medium of one of the clutchesset forth.

A gear wheel 4 is carried on the shaft t adjacent one side of the frame,and meshes with another gear wheel 5, this gear wheel 5 (Fig. 3) and theclutch member 6 being loosely mounted upon the shaft 7, which carriesthe before-mentioned take-up roller 0. Cooperating with the clutchmember 6 is another clutch member 8 which is provided with an annulargroove (Fig. 3) 8, in which two studs 48 carried by the ends of a fork48 engage. Movement of the fork brings the parts of the clutch into orout of engagement, the movable part 8 engaging with a key-way 7 (Fig. 3)on the shaft 7.

The fork 48 is pivotally mounted at 9 in a suitable bearing carried bythe frame, the opposite end of the fork being pivotally mounted at 9' toa portion of the armature 10 of the electromagnet 11 (Fig. 2). If, now,a circuit is completed through the electromagnet, the armature 10 isattracted, so as to more the clutch member 8 out of engagement with theclutch member 6, thus stopping rotation of the gear wheel 5 and theroller 0. In order to maintain the clutch members out of engagement witheach other, any suitable spring-actuated device may be used, forinstance, the spring-actuated locking bar 30 shown in Fig. 7. This baris preferably provided with a nose 31 by which the armature 10 isengaged and held in position. A spring 11 tends to hold the armature 10away from the electromagnets. One such locking bar is provided for allof the electromagnets.

Each of the several units of my system is made up of the elements so fardescribed in detail.

On the shaft 8 (Fig.2) is a pulley 12, and another pulley 13 is carriedby the shaft which supports the roller 6. An endless band 14, having inthis instance the form of a stretched helical spring, passes aroundthese pulleys 12 and 13. The shafts s and t are alike for each of theunits. In order that any number of units may be employed and that eachunit may be self-contained, I

make these shafts in sections disposed end to end so that they may becoupled together or even used as two long shafts. Referring particularlyto Fig. 2, it will be noted that one end of the shaft 17 is providedwith a coupling plate 15 having two'slots 16 therein (Fig. 5), theopposite end of the corresponding shaft t of the next successive unitbeing provided with a plate 17 having two pins 18 extending therefrom.The pins 18 are adapted to engage in the slots 16, so that rotation ofthe shaftt of one unit is imparted to the similar shaft of the next unitthroughout any number of units. Fig. 4 shows the ends of the shafts sand t, nearest the driving mechanism, it being understood that theclutch members 1' and 32 control the forward drive of all the unitssince all the shafts t are connected together. The parts n, g, controlthe reverse movement of the bands carrying the characters for all theunits, since the shafts s of these units are connected together and turnas a single shaft. While the shafts s and 6 may thus rotate throughoutthe units, the position of the band I, electromagnet 11 and the partsactuated thereby on the same unit. The electromagnets 11 are energizedby the jacquard card or a similar device to be presently set forth.Carried by the frame, as shown in Fig. 7, are a number of pairs ofcontact fingers 20, 21, grouped into two series. Each band f, carrying alegend to be displayed, passes between a pair of contact fingers 20 andalso between a pair 21. At various points along the band 7, andpreferably adjacent the sides thereof, are metallic contact pieces 19,adapted to come into engagement with the spring fingers 20 and 21, asthe band is actuated. The two series of contact fingers 20 and 21, servetwo purposes, one being to cause a step by step movement to the jacquardcard in the operation of the mechanism, the other being to insure thecorrect positioning of the legend in each particular unit before it issecured in its fixed display position. All of the pairs of contactfingers 20 are connected in parallel and (Fig. 7 one side of theparallel circuit is placed in series with the ele'ctromagnct 22 of thejacquard device, the two sides of the circuit from these contacts beingthen connected in a manner to be described. The electromagnet 22actuates an escapement 23, whereby the jacquard card 24 moves under theinfluence of the weight 25, the jacquard and the shaft on which theescapement is mounted being provided with coiiperating parts 26, 27,which form a rack and pinion.

It is not my intention to set forth any articular jacquard device as anessential eature of the display mechanism herein described and claimed,as the jacquard may assume different forms. The manner in in each unit,is controlled by the which the jacquard mechanism may actuate thedisplay device is indicated in Fig. 7.

Each band f carries legendsarranged m a definite order of succession-saythe letters of the alphabet in conventionalorder. To display the wordGAB, for instance, three units are used, but the letters do not moveinto position at the same instant. That is to say, if there be threeunits disposed abreast, the middle unit first displays the letter A, thethird unit (the one ,to the right of the observer) next displays theletter B, and then the first unit (to the observers left) displays theletter C. To aid in accomplishing'this purpose, the letters are arrangedalphabetically upon the different bands The magnets 11 -of the threeunits being energized, in the proper successive order to accomplish thisvresult, the several bands f, after being moved successively into theirrespective positions, are

revented from moving farther by the locking mechanism, although theactuating motor. for all of the units may be operated continuously. Asthe driving motor continues in action, no further motion of the bandhaving the characters thereon takes place. After a certain length oftime, however, the magnet 11 is denergized by the practically automaticaction of the jacquard. The jacquard may be caused to move when no handsare working or being moved, and, consequently, when no metallic contactsare pass ing between the spring fingers 20 by means of any s 'tablecontactmaking device in connection with the motor, or by means of anadditional band used solely for this purpose in order to bring intoposition the pin or similar device which breaks the circuit through themagnet of the reversing clutch.

Such constant running of the jacquard is not essential, however, as itmay come to rest after all of the units have come into position to setforth the desired character or numeral.

As may be understood from Fig. 7, the electromagnet 32 is operativelyconnected with the rod :1; shown more particularly in Fig. 4, for thepurpose of actuating the clutch members at, 7),. shown in this figure.The contact members 28, 29, are used for the purpose of enabling thejacquard to electrically controlthe clutches 68. A main line switch isshown at 44 and is placed in one side of the line, the other side beingdesignated as 45. This line leads to the brushes of the motor 46 forcontrolling the units whenever the switch 44 is closed. When this mainline switch 44 is closed and a metallic contact on any one of the stripsf passes between the spring arms 20, the circuit through theelectromagnet 22 is closed and the escapement 23 is actuated, causingone tooth to move, the jacquard card being thereby moved. Thef springcontacts 21, also adapted to be placed. in electrical contact with eachother by means of the metallic contacts 19 carried on a strip, are allconnected together on one side with one side of the main line. One ofthe pairs of contacts is in circuit with the electromagnet 11 on one ofthe units, while the other pans of contacts 21 would be placed incircuit with the electromagnets on the other units, it being. understoodthat there are as many pairs of contacting fingers as there are units.

The electromagnet 11 is shown in operative position in Fig. 2. Thiselectromagnet 11 is also connected to one of the airs of conductors 28,29, of. the jacquard. The conductor 28, connected to this particularelectromagnet 11, may be brought into contact with the conductor 29 byany suitable means. All the conductors 29 on the jacquard card areconnected, together and led downto the terminal 42 connected with oneside of the main line 45 through a connector 38. The arrangement ofterminals 40, 41, 42 and 43, and cooperating contacting elements 36, 37,38, 39, form's a multiple switch operating in substantially thefollowing manner: The cooperating connectors 36, 37, 38 and 39 areconnected together and I to one side 45 of the main line. In oneposltion of the switch, that is, driving position, the motor isconnected to the source ofcircuit. The electromagn t 32'is alsoenergized, this magnet being the only one employed no matter how manyunits are in use, since it merely controls the rod :17 (Fig.

4) which in turn takes care of the forward and reverse movements of theclutches. The switch shown in Fig. 12, made up of the connectors andtermmalsmentioned, in another position places the electromagnet 35 incircuit when the connector 37 engages the terminal 41.' This done, theelectromagnet lifts the nose 31 of the locking device 30, whereby thearmature 10 is released because of the expansion of the helical spring11- within the electromagnet. There are as many electromagnets 11 asthere are units. In moving from the first position to the secondposition, the connectors 36, 38 and 39, leave the terminals 40, 42, and43, with the consequent opening of the circuit leading from theseterminals. Suppose, however,

that the band f is being driven forward.

card causes the contacts 28 and 29 to engage a for that particular unit,a complete circuit will be established through the electromagnet 11 ofthat unit, the circuit, however, being open between the spring arms 21.

tween these spring arms 21, that is, when the hasbeen brought into thecorrect Now,- when a contact 19 on the band 7 comes beposition ofdisplay, the circuit is entirely completed with the magnet 11. Thus itWlll be seen that after the jacquard card has been moved forward until acontact has been made for a certain unit, the letter or other element onthe corresponding band f is brought. into position, and conse uently thedrive on this band is stopped. ence, when all the letters or charactersof any particular announcement have been brought into position, theadvertisement will bBflIS- played for a certain length of time. It is tobe noted, however, that the electromagnet 32 (which controls the rod x)has, during all this time been energized through the connector 39 andthe terminal 43; when this contact is broken, as elsewhere de scribed,the spring 33, connected to the armature of the electromagnet 32, holdsthe armature out and consequently moves the rod :0. Therefore, thedouble fork M (Fig. 4) throws out of gear the clutch members r, p, andputs into gear the clutch members g, n. In such position of these parts,the motor 46 operates the shaft 8, and all the hands backwardly untilthey reach their respective normal or zero positions. Since some ofthese bands have been turned forward a greater length than others beforethe reversing action took place, those which have been turned forward ashort distance reach their zero positions before those which have beenmoved through a long distance, and, in order to take care of this, thespring belts 14E slip idly upon the pulleys 13 carried by those unitsthe bands of which have already been brought to zero position. Theconnector 37 of the acquard switch has now, however, come into contactwith the terminal 41; the circuit passes around the electromagnet 35'andthence to the side 14: of the line. The armature of this electromagnetis lifted and the nose 31 releases the armature of the electromagnet 11,which springs out under the action of the spring 11, and the parts 6, 8,of the clutch (Fig. 2) come into engagement. The result is that when thejacquard switch comes back to its first position, with the connector 37out of engagement with the terminal 41, the parts 71., :7. of the clutch(F ig. l) are thrown out and the parts 1', p, (Fig. 4) are thrown in,the roller 0 being again ready to wind on itself the band f through thegearing -l, 5, and the clutch parts 6, 8. A large variety of arrangementof letters or characters on the various bands f may be taken care ofsolely by the differing arrangement of the contacts on the jacquard,which contacts may, if so desired, be set by hand.

The method of carrying out the invention hereinbefore described is notparticularly adapted for operating the display devices at greatdistances from the operating jacquard since the cost of providing theset forth.

- portion of the multiple cable would render it prohibitive.

have, however, arranged modified circuits adapted to take care ofthedevices at some distances, which arrangements will now be Referringparticularly to Figs. 8 and 9, another form of jacquard feed andescapement is set forth, especially adapted for use at the transmittingstation. In this case a perforated jacquard 69 is used in the form of aband which passes between the rollers 70, 70, covered with suitablematerial, such as rubber and the like, to insure a non-slipping feed.The spindle of the roller 70' is provided with aratchet wheel 71. Aspring-controlled pawl 72 is attached to a rod 73 which is carried by asuitable hearing, and which is controlled by the spring 74. The nose ofthe pawl 72 in its outer position is so located that it is not inimmediate engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel but is spacedtherefrom by a distance equal to about three-fourths of a single tooth.At 75 is a fixed pawl which, in the forward position of the pawl 72,engages a tooth of the ratchet 71 and prevents it overrunning. Theelectromagnet of the jacquard drive is designated 22. A pivotallymounted frame 75* carries at one end a metal roller or rollers 77, theother end 78 being slightly beveled. A projecting rod 80 is fixed to therod 73 and is so arranged that it comes against the end of the beveledtail 78 when the pawl 72 is m its outermost position. A sliding pin 81is secured to a leaf spring 82, so that normally the spring keeps thesliding pin raised. Guide rollers 83 are provided for the jacquard band.Terminals 84 are connected with the springs 82, as shown in Fi 11.

lhe operation of this form of mechanism is as follows: When theelectromagnct 22 is energized, its armature is attracted and draws alongwith it the rod 73, which causes the projecting arm 80 to assume a.position under the end of the tail 78. The conscquent upward movement ofthe tail 78 causes the roller 77 to move downwardly and, as the armatureis still further attracted, the nose of the pawl 72 contacts with atooth on the rachet wheel which turns the roller 71 and the roller 70.These rollers cause the jacquard band to be drawn between them. Since,however, the roller 77 is not pressing the band into contact with thepin 81, the band is quite free to move and is not liable to be damagedas it would be were the rollers 77 not lowered. l Vhen the currentthrough the electromagnet 22 stops, the spring 7% permits the rod 73 tomove outwardly. As the projection 80 is withdrawn, the roller 77 springsup under the action of the spring 82. A fresh portion of the jacquardband now comes oppooperated contact switch. A number of binding postsare shown at 100 and are in electrical communication with the variousstaionary contact members 40, 41, 42 and 43 and with a metallic guide101. Extending through this guide is a metallic bar 102 with which thecontact fingers 36, 37, 38 and 39 are inte al. An electromagnet is shownat 103 an is used to slide the bar 102 in the general direction of itslength. The contact fingers 36, 37, 38 and 39 engage and disengage thecontact members 40, 41, 42 and 43 according to the position occupiedfrom timeto time by the bar 102.

In the mechanism shown in Fig. 13 the conductor 29 rests upon a support29 which acts as a limiting stop and prevents it from becomingmisplaced. In order to assist in supporting the clutch mechanism shownin Fig. 10 I employ a bearing post 104 and ex tending through thisbearing post is a rocking stem 105 carrying the rocking lever 2. Forconvenience in securing the parts of the frame-work together, as shownin Fig. 1, I employ bolts 106. A spring 107 presses upon the movablemember 31 to normally hold the same in the position indicated in Figs. 1and 2. The details of construction of the difierent magazines, as tosize and shape and the material of which the different parts are made,may be varied without departing from the inventive idea disclosed.

I claim- In an advertising device, the combination of a plurality ofmovable bands each provided with intelligible legends, feed rollersmoving said bands, a. contact member carried by one of the hands, astationary contact member mounted partially within the path of travel ofsaid first-named contact member, clutch mechanism throwing said feedrollers into and out of action, a magnet for controlling said clutchmechanism, an electric circuit connected with said magnet for energizingthe same, said circuit being controlled by said contact members, andjacquard mechanism for further controlling said electric circuit.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in resence of two witnesses.

ENRY KINGSFORD HARRIS. Witnesses:

A BROWNE, H.- D. JAmsoN.

